Winter 2010 Haute Couture Shows Close in Paris

The 2010 Winter Haute Couture season in Paris came to a close over the weekend with shows by Valentino and Josep Font. The Valentino collection, by the label’s new design duo Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, delivered a more personal vision that attempted to rejuvenate the brand for a younger, hipper clientele. Full of bustiers in nude tulle overlaid with black lace, thigh skimming skirts and even Venetian carnival masks, the collection showcased an edgier winter look while retaining classic Valentino elements.

Spanish designer Josep Font pushed the idea of Haute Couture to its avant-garde extreme. Models could barely walk in his over-the-top creations which included funnel shaped coats, endless yards of chiffon and pointy plastic collages balanced on the heads of every model that came down the runway. Font used Mexican elements, including a palette of vivid reds, blues, purples and yellows inspired by Day of the Dead celebrations. While the collection was one of the least wearable of the week, the extreme aesthetic of Font’s vision was undeniable—many onlookers said watching Font’s show was like watching art in motion.